Tours & Sightseeing

Ardtara is situated at the geographic center of Northern Ireland. As such it is the ideal base for sightseeing tours. Everthing is within easy reach on a daily basis.

• Visit the Giant’s Causeway: this World Heritage Site is one of the eight wonders of the world. It’s unique geological structure is beyond comprehension. The scenery is breathtaking and there are numerous entertaining walks and hikes in the area. There is even an old steam train available if you want to go back in time to the days when Victorian Lords and Ladies visited the Causeway.

• A visit to the city of Londonderry/Derry is a trip back in time. This city is the best example of a European walled city remaining virtually unchanged since it was built in the 17th Century. You can walk on the top of the wall and look down into the Bogside, itself the scene of modern Irish history. Visit the Guildhall where the citizens of the late 1600s met to discuss their situation, as they were being starved by the Royalist forces outside the City walls.

• Bushmills Distillery: near the Giant’s Causeway is the famed Bushmills Distillery, the oldest continually operating Distillery in the world, opened in 1608 and still going. See how this wonderful liquid is obtained and taste some of the great single malt versions available.

• Visit Castlerock and walk through the Bishop of Londonderry’s palace and his famous Library perched on the edge of the cliff, where he met with his lover. He is also famous for horse races on the nearby Magilligan Strand and for inventing Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry.

• Visit the Carrick-a-Reede rope bridge and see first hand the way that fishermen caught the salmon for centuries as they traversed along the coast on the way to the various major rivers for spawning. Those without a head for hights will enjoy it better from the security of the land side.

• The Sperrin Mountains within 10 minutes of Ardtara, are simply brimming with opportunities to hike in some of the most beautiful unspoiled countryside anywhere in the world. Hikes are laid out and different lengths and difficulty can be planned ahead.

• Drive around Belfast, visit the architecturally striking City Hall in the center, have a lunch and a pint at the Crown Bar in one of the unique nooks, take a look at the various Grafitti decorations on the Shankill and Falls roads that depict the troubles, and enjoy the unique architecture and decoration of the Blue Book hotel called the Merchant, adapted from the Northern Bank headquarters of another era.

Houses and Gardens

Mount Stewart
Northen Irealnd is full of wonderful Homes and Gardens. The most famous and interesting is probably Mount Stewart. The home of Lord Castlereagh, this is a great example of its kind, with unique flora and fauna brought from all around the world. One of Northern Ireland's most popular National Trust properties Celebrated landscaped park: European Garden of Inspiration 2003

International Rose Garden at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park Upper Malone Road, Belfast
More than 25,000 rose bushes make this a blooming marvellous place in summer. During Belfast Rose Week in July, the heady fragrance of floribundas drifts across the park's 130 acres, confirming why Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park has been a world centre of rose expertise for generations.

Ben Varden
This garden one of the most beautiful walled garden's in the British Isles, both vegetables and flowers, cared for by the owner. Pleasant tea room in the old stables.

Special Events:

There are numerous exciting events scheduled in Northern Ireland year round:

• North West 200 motorcycle road race in May

• Sailing in the Irish Sea

• Ulster Rugby matches on Friday nights throughout the winter

• Horse Racing at Royal Down Racecourse

• Senior British Open golf tournament and numerous amateur golf tournaments especially the Black Bush event open to anyone with a bona fide handicap

• Auld Lammas Fair at Ballycastle in October

• Hilden Beer Festival in Lisburn